Agents Of Good Roots
Richmond, Virginia's Agents of Good Roots unique sound is gaining them a serious following. The quartet first collaborated in 1995. Initially, the band focused on playing in clubs and college campuses from New York to Atlanta. By performing over 200 shows a year, they have been able to successfully mix a variety of musical backgrounds to form a focused, distinct and coherent sound.
Though each member had formal music schooling, Agents of Good Roots began as "nothing more than blue prints for a band," according to Winn. The beginning was all about playing, but over time the quality of the song became prominent. "We're really a band about songs," says Winn. "It's the way we feel about pop in general. I used to like bands, now I like songs, any type, classic songs, great songs." Brian Jones explains, "Each night we execute each song while bringing it to a new level giving it fresh interpretations." Winn, Jones, and Myers, share duties as the main songwriters. Myers explains, "usually the one of us who wrote the song will become the lead vocalist for that tune. I feel this contributes to our dynamic and versatile live gigs.
Agents of Good Roots released their debut CD "Where'd You Get That Vibe?" in the spring of 1996. 9 Times Magazine characterizes this eleven-song collection as, "original and relentless." From the intricate jazz melody of "Sidewinder" to the funky love song "Turtle Dove" to the ballad "Miss Misbelieving", "Where'd You Get That Vibe?" is a concise representation of the band's excellent and eclectic musicianship. Winn sums up the album as "a tight package of our sound focusing on the songs with a suggestion of what goes on at our live shows." Their follow up CD, "Straightaround" displays the strength, maturation and diversity of Agents of Good Roots. Straightaround is a live recording of the bands weekly shows at Trax in Charlottesville, VA and The Flood Zone in Richmond, VA during September 1996.
The success with the sales of "Where'd You Get That Vibe?" and "Straightaround", served to lay the groundwork for the band's arrival on a major record label. After three years together, Agents of Good Roots is poised to make a name for itself with the group's RCA debut "One by One". "One by One", produced by Paul Fox and mixed by Tom Lord-Alge is chock full of revelatory pop/rock moments. This CD reflects the care and concern the band takes in producing great songs. With its technicolor spectrum of pop, rock, and soul tones, "One By One" listens like a compilation of different artists held together by a single qualitative thread. "We're kind of a moody band," says Jones. "And on this record, with three vocalists and so many styles, it lends itself well to various moods."
